EC is interviewed in Ron Howard's Beatles documentary, Eight Days A Week.

It’s telling that the one active musical peer among the director’s chosen panel of talking heads is 61-year-old Elvis Costello; if you’re wondering what Paul McCartney’s recent collaborator Kanye West, for example, might have to say about The Beatles’ enduring influence on younger artists, this is not the place to look.

#144Elvis Costello & the Attractions“Radio Radio”Like many of the songs cut in 1977 by Costello’s newly assembled band, the Attractions, the instrumental attack of “Radio Radio” carries a clear punk energy, and the song’s lyrics likewise suggest punk sympathies. In protesting the blandness of the BBC’s playlists—and its refusal to give airtime to certain notorious punk records—Costello’s cynicism is easy enough to identify in the bridge: “They say you better listen to the voice of reason/But they don't give you any choice ‘cause they think that it’s treason.” But the track also changes tenor over its course. One claim—“Radio is a sound salvation/Radio is cleaning up the nation”—is sarcastic early on. Yet by the end, the possibility of grace achieved through broadcasting is so palpable, the singer can obviously envision it for real.

On “Radio Radio,” Costello wills a new, more honest radio landscape into being. It’s this gradually emerging idea of a station “broadcasting from within you”—as Costello put it in his memoir—that allows the bashing anthem to transcend the language of the snide takedown and become a call to aesthetic action. –Seth Colter Walls

#109Elvis Costello“Alison”Elvis Costello has put forth a great deal of effort to ensure “Alison” is not misunderstood. In his 2015 memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, he wrote that the track is a work of fiction: “It was a premonition, my fear that I would not be faithful or that my disbelief in happy endings would lead me to jill the love that I had longed for.” Much of his anxious justification comes from the common interpretation that his unforgettable refrain, “Alison, I know this world is killing you/Oh, Alison, my aim is true,” is a call to kill this newly conjured woman. It’s funny and fitting that Costello has fretted over his own poeticism for decades, because it’s that same self-loathing and need for approval that makes “Alison” beautiful in its complexity.

At its core, “Alison” is a near-perfect ballad, fit for a wedding or prom—any moment that requires a slow song that feels deeply personal. But as Costello’s pain surfaces from being spurned by his dream girl for a man she doesn’t even love, you hear his scorn: He tells her how unhappy she is. “Alison,” in one context, becomes a work of projection, but it’s the song’s multitudes that makes it universal: Love, anger, sadness, and hope are inextricable. Untangling “Alison” entirely requires serious self-reflection. Costello’s continued rationalization shows that not even he can fully comprehend its magic. –Matthew Strauss

Restaurateur Jackie Greenbaum calls it an "upscale Italian version" of sister spot El Chucho, having a similar (but larger) setup with front walls that open to the outside and rooftop open air seating. The 100-seat restaurant has a 15-seat sidewalk patio, too.

The pieces of artwork dotting the walls are her creations, and long and narrow cozy layout will make patrons "feel squeezed — in a good way," with clean lines and funky pops of red scattered throughout.

Interesting this, and it leads me on to a question I've been wanting to ask for years, if not decades ! I don't know if John or Sulky have the answer, but I managed to get one of these back in 1980, so I know it's an original, and at the time I was led to believe that they were as rare as the proverbial "rocking horse s**t, and worth a fortune.

Over recent years they seem to be changing hands now for very sensible money as mentioned in that Discogs piece. So, the big question.................was there ever a re-press done, are there some reproduction copies that have been done ( fakes ), has it just devalued, or were there more around than originally thought . As I said, I know mine is an original, so are there different grades or versions of this picture disc promo ? All info gratefully accepted !

Like you, Goon, I thought these were absolutely impossible to find a bit like the Radio Radio 12 inch. However, in recent years they've dropped in price considerably. You've got em worried now because of the way that the picture is beginning to come away from the vinyl - and I thought that was a proof of age rather than being a bootleg ! Interestingly, it's not mentioned in either Geoff Parkyn's excellent ( though incomplete!) discography or Richard G.'s first ECIS book "So Far" - though the latter does show a bill for mixing MAIT on 26th January 1977 to Nick Lowe and D.P.Costello ( for the Whitton/MAIT time line, John). I remember cutting out a Record Collector guide to EC records in the late 70s and another one a few years later in the early 80s and I'll dig them out and have a look. Other promos are mentioned in those books including the orange vinyl "Now See Them Live" 12" promo of Elvis, Nick Lowe and Mink Deville and the Red Hearts and red vinyl My Funny Valentine single.My gut feeling is just that people no longer feel that the album is such a rarity and consequently they have resurfaced. The two-tone single I Can't Stand Up seems to go for serious money on eBay but was increasingly common when it was given away at a London concert in 1980 ( was it the Rainbow in September ?) and I remember paying less than £20 for it back in the day when my furthest travelling would have been 40 miles from my parents house in Devon. I'll hunt out the Record Mirror piecse soon

sulky lad wrote:Like you, Goon, I thought these were absolutely impossible to find a bit like the Radio Radio 12 inch. However, in recent years they've dropped in price considerably. You've got em worried now because of the way that the picture is beginning to come away from the vinyl - and I thought that was a proof of age rather than being a bootleg ! Interestingly, it's not mentioned in either Geoff Parkyn's excellent ( though incomplete!) discography or Richard G.'s first ECIS book "So Far" - though the latter does show a bill for mixing MAIT on 26th January 1977 to Nick Lowe and D.P.Costello ( for the Whitton/MAIT time line, John). I remember cutting out a Record Collector guide to EC records in the late 70s and another one a few years later in the early 80s and I'll dig them out and have a look. Other promos are mentioned in those books including the orange vinyl "Now See Them Live" 12" promo of Elvis, Nick Lowe and Mink Deville and the Red Hearts and red vinyl My Funny Valentine single.My gut feeling is just that people no longer feel that the album is such a rarity and consequently they have resurfaced. The two-tone single I Can't Stand Up seems to go for serious money on eBay but was increasingly common when it was given away at a London concert in 1980 ( was it the Rainbow in September ?) and I remember paying less than £20 for it back in the day when my furthest travelling would have been 40 miles from my parents house in Devon. I'll hunt out the Record Mirror piecse soon

Cheers Sulky, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it !

I was at the " two-tone freebie" gig , can't remember if it was Odeon or Palais, and even went round asking people, especially couples, if they wanted theirs! Got a few extras that were subsequently sold in Sounds !You might have even bought one of mine Sulky !! !

sulky lad wrote:I think I got mine at a record fair in Redruth of all places !I've kept a diary since 1980 and when I retire, I'll make a list of all my memorable Costello dates, records bought, gigs attended etc.

sulky lad wrote:Like you, Goon, I thought these were absolutely impossible to find a bit like the Radio Radio 12 inch. However, in recent years they've dropped in price considerably. You've got em worried now because of the way that the picture is beginning to come away from the vinyl - and I thought that was a proof of age rather than being a bootleg ! Interestingly, it's not mentioned in either Geoff Parkyn's excellent ( though incomplete!) discography or Richard G.'s first ECIS book "So Far" - though the latter does show a bill for mixing MAIT on 26th January 1977 to Nick Lowe and D.P.Costello ( for the Whitton/MAIT time line, John). I remember cutting out a Record Collector guide to EC records in the late 70s and another one a few years later in the early 80s and I'll dig them out and have a look. Other promos are mentioned in those books including the orange vinyl "Now See Them Live" 12" promo of Elvis, Nick Lowe and Mink Deville and the Red Hearts and red vinyl My Funny Valentine single.My gut feeling is just that people no longer feel that the album is such a rarity and consequently they have resurfaced. The two-tone single I Can't Stand Up seems to go for serious money on eBay but was increasingly common when it was given away at a London concert in 1980 ( was it the Rainbow in September ?) and I remember paying less than £20 for it back in the day when my furthest travelling would have been 40 miles from my parents house in Devon. I'll hunt out the Record Mirror piecse soon

Cheers Sulky, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it !

I was at the " two-tone freebie" gig , can't remember if it was Odeon or Palais, and even went round asking people, especially couples, if they wanted theirs! Got a few extras that were subsequently sold in Sounds !You might have even bought one of mine Sulky !! !

The 2 Tone record was given out at the Rainbow 50th anniversary gig in September 1980 along with a free programme.

I got two as my girlfriend at the time was given one too and she wasn't a fan. But I gave hers away to a mate who couldn't make the gig.

I got Elvis to sign it last year in Birmingham and his comment was, 'oh you got one of them'.

sulky lad wrote:Like you, Goon, I thought these were absolutely impossible to find a bit like the Radio Radio 12 inch. However, in recent years they've dropped in price considerably. You've got em worried now because of the way that the picture is beginning to come away from the vinyl - and I thought that was a proof of age rather than being a bootleg ! Interestingly, it's not mentioned in either Geoff Parkyn's excellent ( though incomplete!) discography or Richard G.'s first ECIS book "So Far" - though the latter does show a bill for mixing MAIT on 26th January 1977 to Nick Lowe and D.P.Costello ( for the Whitton/MAIT time line, John). I remember cutting out a Record Collector guide to EC records in the late 70s and another one a few years later in the early 80s and I'll dig them out and have a look. Other promos are mentioned in those books including the orange vinyl "Now See Them Live" 12" promo of Elvis, Nick Lowe and Mink Deville and the Red Hearts and red vinyl My Funny Valentine single.My gut feeling is just that people no longer feel that the album is such a rarity and consequently they have resurfaced. The two-tone single I Can't Stand Up seems to go for serious money on eBay but was increasingly common when it was given away at a London concert in 1980 ( was it the Rainbow in September ?) and I remember paying less than £20 for it back in the day when my furthest travelling would have been 40 miles from my parents house in Devon. I'll hunt out the Record Mirror piecse soon

Cheers Sulky, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it !

I was at the " two-tone freebie" gig , can't remember if it was Odeon or Palais, and even went round asking people, especially couples, if they wanted theirs! Got a few extras that were subsequently sold in Sounds !You might have even bought one of mine Sulky !! !

The 2 Tone record was given out at the Rainbow 50th anniversary gig in September 1980 along with a free programme.

I got two as my girlfriend at the time was given one too and she wasn't a fan. But I gave hers away to a mate who couldn't make the gig.

I got Elvis to sign it last year in Birmingham and his comment was, 'oh you got one of them'.

Checked the Record Collector items and neither of them mention the MAIT/TYM promo other than to make a general comment about American promos which "would need another article to cover" . I have a gut feeling that more and more EC material will come on the market for less and less as people get older, need money or just lose the desire to keep a collection. I even gave away one of my 11 MAIT LPs with a beige back cover to a 22 year old at work who's into vinyl. (Mind you it was a worse condition copy than the other beige one ! )

My long term hope is that there are numerous live recordings that some collectors have kept to themselves and that soon they'll see the light of day - such as the Kampuchea concert, which must have been professionally recorded, along with a few professional recordings mentioned in Going Through The Motions and a few of the U.K. tour in 1980 ( has anyone got Fishguard, Hastings or Aberystwyth ?!!!)

Listener Gregg from Upper Montclair is challenging you to come up with songs that feature trumpet solos. So we're going to shine the spotlight on that instrument in the horn section for the Question of the Day. Share your favorites and we'll spin a set after 9 am.